Cable cutting shears



April 27, 1954y l K. w. NEBEL 2,676,656

' CABLECUTTING sHEARs y Filed Jan. 9,'1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.'

April' 27, 1954 K.T w. hlx-:121121.r

CABLE CUTTING sHEARs Filed Jan. `9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE CABLE CUTTING sHEARs Kurt W. Nebel, Chicago, Ill. Application January 9, i550, serial N6. 137,579

9 Claims.

My invention relates to hand operated shears, such as are used in sheet metal and machine shops, and one object is to provide a shear of this type which is constructed in a manner to cut various types of cables, such as insulating cable, B-X electric cable, aluminum cable, etc., with facility.

A further object is to construct a shear of this kind ostensibly as a hand operated shear, but designed to negotiate work usually cut by power shears.

A still further object is to construct the novel shear with a cutting medium which undergoes a rolling action designed to impose an arcuate cut on the cable.

An additional object is to include in the novel shear a connecting linkage which translates the manual eiort to operate the shear into a powerful cutting stroke.

Another object is to include in the novel shear an eiective and quickly controlled hold-down device.

An important object is to assemble the novel shear in a manner to make it sturdy and compact.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the shear in the idle position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation as seen from the right-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a duplication of the medial portion of Fig. 1, showing the hold-down device in operation;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the position of the parts of the shear after a cutting stroke has been accomplished;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, sections on the lines 1 1 and 8-8 of Fig. 1.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawings indicates the body7 of the shear as a pair of massive upstanding plates I5 and I6, these being similar in form and spaced laterally. The plates have outwardly directed feet I1 at the front and rear, such feet being made with perforations for the application of bolts I8 or other suitable means to fasten the shear on a support such as a table or bench, portions of the plates occurring between the feet being slightly elevated from such support. The plate I5 is formed with an inward enlargement 20 near the bottom which extends to the plate I6 and xes the spacing between the plates; and these are bound together through the enlargement by a series of bolts 2|.

While the body plates I5 and i6 of the shear serve primarily as supports, the plate I5 also serves as a carrier for the stationary blade 22 of the shear. Thus, Figs. 1 and 8 show that a pair of cross-bolts 24 and 25 are passed through the plates I5 and I6, and threaded through the stationary blade 22 as indicated in Fig. 8, the bolts receiving securing nuts 26 on the outer side of the plate I6. 'Ihe rotation of the bolts 24 and 25 secures the lateral travel of the blade 22 to the desired position; and a series of set screws 28 entering the plate I 5 is then employed to bear against the blade 22 and fix it in the position to which it has been laterally adjusted.

The upper or cutting blade of the shear is indicated at 3B, and it is fastened alongside a massive plate 32 which may be called the upper blade holder. Fig. 6 shows that the blade 30 is secured into a chambered portion 33 of the blade holder 32 by a longitudinal series of socket screws 34, these facilitating the easy removal of the blade in case of sharpening or other attention. The blade holder 32 is pivoted at the rear on a cross-bolt 35 which passes outwardly through a substantially vertical slot 3l in the body plate I6 to receive a washer 38 and securing nut 40. The motion of the blade holder 32 is guided by a second cross-bolt 42 similar to the cross-bolt 36 and also receiving a washer 43 and a securing nut 44 on the outer side of the body plate IB. 'Ihe bolt 42 is designed to travel in an oblique slot 45 made in the plate I6, the slot being inclined toward the front at an angle in the vicinity of 45.

A detent 50 is pivotally attached with its upper end on the inner side of the plate I6, such detent being pivotable on a cross-bolt 5I which extends to the outer side of the plate I6 to receive a securing nut 52. The detent tapers toward its lower end, and the latter is rounded in a manner to t a pocket 54 made between the upper edge of the blade holder 32 and an upward heel 55 formedI at the rear end thereof. A block 51 is carried by the plate I6 opposite the rear edge of the blade holder 32,' the block carrying a projecting coil spring 58. Thus, when the shear is in the idle position-as shown in Fig. 4-the blade holder bears against the spring 58 with a compressing influence. However, when the shear takes a cutting stroke, the blade holder 32 de- 3 parts from the spring 58 toY leave the same free, as shown in Fig. 5.

The shear is operated by a hand lever 60 which has an angular base BI directed rearwardly. Thus, the terminal portion of the base is pivoted on a cross-bolt 62 passing between the body plates I5 and I6; and a pair of parallel links B4 are located with their upper end portions alongside the handle base 6|, being pivoted to such base on a crsS-bolt`65. A pair of 'links 61 similar to the links-164 are rpivoted with their lower ends to the upper portion of the blade holder 32 on a cross-bolt 68; and the links 61 are expanded to overlap the lower end portions of thelinks 64 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A sturdy arm 10 having a generally horizontal course is disposed in the space between the upper portions of the body plates l and I6. Thusthe rear end portion of the arm is pivoted on abolt 12 which passes throughthe arm and the plate I6 to receive a securing nut 13; and the forward end portion of the arm 1S lies between the lower end portions of the links .64. The joint of the arm 10 with the links sa and 61 is intersected by a-pivotal bolt 15, which receives a securing nut 1.6.

Figs. V41 and 4 indicate the idle position ofthe shear, inwhich case the hand lever .60 is poised in a substantially vertical position. Thus, through its linked connection to the blade holder 32, the lever serves to support the bladeholder at a relativelysteep angle from thefront.; and the blade holder is also-supported at y.the rear by the slot 45, whichprevents the downward arcuate travel of the bolt 42 aboutthe pivot. #L8 .of the blade holder. "I'herefore, the bottom4 bolt 6. of the latter is maintained high, or in `.the .upper .end of the 'slot 31. A t the same.,ti m.c....the pressure of Lthe spring 58 against .the back -of the blade holder causes' it to maintain .its .rm -relation. in the regions vof the pivots .68., 4.2 and 3.6,..so .that the lever 6D, cannot of .itself swing forward to be in thewayjn case the shear is jarred or its pivotal joints have worn free from extended.use. In order'tooperatethe Shear, the handlever .Ell is drawn toswins theclockwise. direction asseen in Eigs. 1 and 4, such swing being .on the pivoting bolt 62. Initially, the angle of the links 64 furnishes aj favorable 'leverage to themanual pull on the lever to accomplish the .down-,swing of the; pivot 1 5.. and` .arm 10. .The descent of the pivot 15 will bear directlythrough the-links 53? onthe cleaver-like blade holder .32; vand the forward swing of the, latter. will draw forwardly on such links 61 to straighten them in relation to the links 54 on the descent of the blade holder, as shown in Fig. 5. The opening or straighteningfaotion of the link sets 54 and .B'EQleates a considerablepower advantage between the hand lever land' thev blade holdeigso that the mere manual pull on the lever 6D .procuresa power stroke on the part of the blade holder 32 comparable to a, power shear.

i The body plate I5 is made with a curved pocket 80 Yfor the deposit of the work 8l; and the body plate I5 has asimilar but lower pocket B2 to catch the'severed portion of the work. The stationaryT shear blade 22 has a pocket 83 similar to, but higher than the pocket 85 of the plate l5. It is noted between Figs. 4 and 5 that the upper shear blade `3S), while aiording an ample clearance for the insertion or deposit of the work when the blade holder is in the poised position, descends past the intersecting point with the pocket 33 when the blade holder has accomplished its workvir`1, g"stroke, as perFig. 5. During this stroke, the

detent 50 maintains a hold on the heel 55 of the blade holder while the latter assumes the forward travel afforded the bolt 42 by the slot 45. Thus, the pivotal descent of the blade 35 upon the work is accompanied by a forward motion, so that the cutting action is with an arcuate or wrapping movement tending to work through the cut rather than bite through the same. This action requires less power and accomplishes a cleaner cut.

A 4simple expedient is wenrployedzn the novel shear for holdingthe work' down. Thus, Fig. 1 shows that a bar 85 is pivoted at its rear end on a -bolt 85 to the outer side of the body plate 15,'the

barextending forwardly to carry an angular work rengaging jaw 81 at its front end. Normally, a .torsionspring 88, anchored with one end to the plate l 5.as indicated at 89 and bearing upwardly with its other end on the bar 85, serves tokeep the jawl high or in a position to clear the work. However, a cam plate 95 is mounted over the bar in a .position Valongside the body Vplate .15, such cam plate being tapered forwardly from .the top. The .cam .plate is slidably disposed relative to the .bar B5 by .being mounted within aretainer 9! bolted at 92 .to the plate l5; and the .cam plate has Aoutward terminal anges 53 and 4gli. After the work has been inserted in the 'pocket of the shear, the flange `93 vmaybe .used -as a handle to draw the camplate .90 forwardly,.in which event it will beanonthebar85 tolower the jaw 81 into engagement with the work. In manner, the said jawmay -be inuenced to=clamp the. work r-mly; and fthe jawwill .be-. -lockedrin the .clamped position. bythe engagementnf the cam plate B with the base 95 of themetainer Si, the parts describedrnow..appearing-.asin Itis understoodnow thatthe simple retraction of thecam plate 3.0 willuuickly releasethe worq-k; and a rear limit for the cam plateis formed-when the .rear flange S4 .,thereoimeetsafstop pin 5 rising from the/rearendof. the ban85.

It will now be evident that the novelshear incorporates .anumber of featuresV whichmake it a highly ecienbfappliance. its sturdy nature enables it to be built compactly whilemetaining the necessary strength anddurability-.tor the work requiredofit. Flrthenthelinkage between the. hand lever. andthenpper V,blade holder is of a nature to translate comparatively light manual effort into .considerable power,..sc that work usually.negotiated vby powershears may be handled by the present .hand shear. Further, the disposal of the upper blade .such as to impose a partly lsliding orrolling action during the cut, whereby to lessenthe force necessary to accomplish the same. Eurthena .holddown service is provided which is simple and positive in its action, yet quickly releasable. Finally, the constructionof the shear involvesfew and simpleparts, whereby to enable the shear to be produced at reasonable cost.

WhileI I. have desoribedthe invention along specific lines, various minor changes or reiinements may 4,be madetherein without, departing from its principle, and I reserve the Yright to employ all such changes and refinements as. may come within the scope and spirit .of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A cable cutting shear .comprising a pair of laterally-spaced body plates, a lower blade disposed between .the body plates, an upper blade holder located between the body plates, an upper blade carried by the said holder, manually operated means. tov lower the upper blade holder with the eiect of accomplishing a shearing movement between the upper blade and the lower one, the rear portion of said holder being pivoted in one of said plates at the bottom, a cross-bolt carried by said holder at a medial point, and one ci said plates having a forwardly inclined slot receiving the cross-bolt in its upper end when said holder is in its initial position, said slot allowing lateral leeway for the pivoting movement of the holder on the downward. stroke.

2. A cable cutting shear comprising a pair of laterally spaced body plates, a lower blade disposed between the body plates, an upper blade holder located between the body plates, an upper blade carried by the said holder, manually operated means to lower the upper blade holder with the eiect of accomplishing a shearing move ment between the upper blade and the lower one, the rear portion of said holder being pivoted in one of said plates at the bottom with downward leeway, means at the intermediate portion of said holder to guide it in forward direction during its downward swing, and means at the rear of the holder checking the rise thereof during said swing.

3. A cable cutting shear comprising a pair ci laterally spaced body plates, a lower blade disposed between the body plates, an upper blade holder located between the body plates, an upper blade carried by the said holder, manually operated means to lower the upper blade holder with the eilect of accomplishing a shearing movement between the upper blade and the lower one, the rear portion of said holder being pivoted one of said plates at the bottom with downward leeway, means at the intermediate portion ci said holder to guide it in forward direction during its downward swing, and means at the rear of the holder checking the rise thereof during said swing, said means comprising a detent carried by one of the body plates and directed to said rear portion.

ll. A cable cutting shear comprising a pair or" laterally spaced body plates, a lower blade disposed between the body plates, an upper blade movement between the upper blade and the lower r one, the rear portion of said holder being pivoted in one of said plates at the bottom with downward leeway, means at the intermediate portion ci said holder to guide it in forward direction during its downward swing, and means at the rear ci the holder checking the rise thereof dursaid swing, said means comprising a detent carried by one of the body plates and directed into a pocket formed by an upward heel extended from said portion.

5. A cable-cutting appliance or the like comprising a support member, separate cooperating and relatively movable cutting blade members carried by said support member, means mounting at least one of said blade members for combined swinging and bodily sliding movement toward the other blade member and to cooperative work-cutting engagement therewith, lever means operatively connected to said support and firstmentioned blade member to actuate the latter, one of said :first-mentioned blade and base members having a guide groove inclined toward the other blade member, the other oi said first-mentioned blade and base members having a projection extending into said guide groove whereby to guide said blade member into cooperative engagement with the other blade member and the work, support member-carried spring means acting against said inst-mentioned blade member in a direction to tend to maintain said blade member at the remote limit of its bodily sliding movement away from the other blade member when the appliance is in its non-operating position and to tend to sustain theV weight of said lever means in said position, and a swingable detent carried by said base member and engaging said first-mentioned blade member in all positions of the latter, said detent preventing said first-mentioned blade member from sliding bodily away from the work and companion cutter member when the lever means is being operated.

6. A cable-cutting appliance or the like oomprising a support member, separate cooperating and relatively movable cutting blade members carried by said support member, means mounting at least one of said blade members for combined swing and bodily sliding movement toward the other blade member and to cooperative workcutting engagement therewith, lever means operatively connected to said support and rstmentioned blade member to actuate the same, one of said mst-mentioned blade and baser members having a guide groove inclined toward the other blade member, the other of said Inst-mentioned blade and base members having a projection eX- tending into said guide groove whereby to guide said blade member into cooperative engagement with the other blade member and the Work, and support member-carried spring means acting against said first-mentioned blade member in a direction to tend to maintain said blade member at the remote limit of its bodily sliding movement away from the other blade member when the appliance is in its non-operating position and to tend to sustain the weight of said lever means in said position.

7. A cable-cutting appliance or the like cornprising a support member, separate cooperating and relatively movable cutting blade members carried by said support member, means mounting at least one of said blade members for combined swinging and bodily sliding movement toward the other blade member and to cooperative work-cutting engagement therewith, lever means operatively connected to said support and firstmentioned blade member to actuate the same, and a swingable detent carried by said base member and engaging said first-mentioned blade member in all positions of the latter, said detent preventing said first-mentioned blade member from sliding bodily away from the work and companion cutter member when the lever means is being operated.

8. A cable-cutting appliance or the like comprising a support member, separate cooperating and relatively movable cutting blade members carried by said support member, means mounting at least one of said blade members for combined swinging and bodily sliding movement toward the other blade member and to cooperative workcutting engagement therewith, means operatively connected to said support and first-mentioned blade member to actuate the latter to operative cutting relationship with the other blade member with the effect of accomplishing a shearing movement between the inst-mentioned blade member and the second-mentioned blade member, and yielding means carried by said support member and engaging said first-mentioned blade member in a direction to tend to maintain the latter at the remote limit of its bodily back sliding movement along the other blade member when the appliance is-in its. non-operating position.

9. A cable-cutting appliance or the like comprising a support member, separate cooperating and relatively movable cutting blade members carried by said support member, means mounting at least one of `said blade members for combined swinging and bodily sliding movement toward the other blade member and to cooperative. workcutting engagement therewith, means operatively connected to said support and first-mentioned blade member to actuate the latter to operative cutting relationship with the other blade member` with the effect of accomplishing a shearing movement between the rst-mentoned blade member and the second-mentioned blade member, support member-carried means operatively engaging said first-mentioned blade member to prevent bodily sliding movement of the latter away from the other blade member during the operation of cutting a piece of work, and yielding means carried by said support member and engaging said 8i first-mentioned blade member in a direction to tend to maintain the latter at the remote back limit of its bodily sliding movement along the other blade member when the appliance is in its non-operating position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 529,639 Autrey Nov. 29, 189e 710,310 Wesselmann Sept. 30, 1992 786,592 Ohl Apr. 4, 1905 989,824 Swan Apr. 18, 1911 1,137,093 Simonsen Apr, 27, 1915 1,565,654 Laukhui Dec. 15, 1925 1,709,174 McMillan Jan. 29, 1929 2,477,295 Garwood July 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 62,057 Germany May 7, 1892 19,153 Great Britain Sept. 1, 1902 

